Kyrie: 'Felt like I was protecting my character' during tense media session

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving broke his silence Saturday regarding his team-issued suspension.

Irving was banned for a minimum of five games for failing to disavow antisemitism following multiple opportunities in front of reporters, including one strained media session on Nov. 3, during which he claimed, "I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from." With his suspension reportedly nearing an end, Irving explained why he refused to repudiate antisemitism and offer an apology during that specific exchange.

"I felt like I was protecting my character, and I reacted out of pure defense," he told SNY's Ian Begley. "I was just hurt that I could be labeled, or I thought that I was being labeled, as antisemitic or anti-Jewish. And I felt like that was just so disrespectful to ask me whether or not I was antisemitic or not.

"Now, to the outside world it may have been seen as a simple yes or no - which rightfully so, it should have been 'No, I'm not antisemitic. No, I'm not anti-Jewish. I am a person that believes that we all should have equal opportunities and that we should all shower each other with love, and that should be at the forefront.' But it wasn't in that initial conversation, and I take my accountability, and I want to apologize for that because it came off the wrong way, completely."

Irving, whose suspension has eclipsed eight consecutive games, is reportedly expected back in Brooklyn's lineup Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies, but the team is officially deeming him questionable for now. He has since apologized to the Jewish community and denounced the false antisemitic tropes contained in the film he shared - two reported requirements mandated by the Nets before they would allow him to return.

The 30-year-old said Saturday that his claim of "How can I be antisemitic when I know where I come from?" was a reference to his upbringing.

"That statement itself was just referring back to my childhood and all the relatives and friends that I have made and that I will continue to get to know on a deeper level ... some of them are Jewish, some of them are not Jewish, but I felt like that didn't matter, and because I felt like it didn't matter in that moment, it came off the wrong way."